Articles from April 2016

Important notes on AP testing

According to AP policy, AP exam grades will be cancelled for any student who uses a cell phone during an exam or on break.

Students need to bring pencils and a black or blue pen to AP tests.

Outstanding Delegates at Iowa Model UN

The following students were selected as Outstanding Delegates at the Iowa High School Model UN Conference: Paulina Lavrova, Daniel Andreotti, Max Eness, and Serena Qamhieh.

Caleb Kong advances to National Junior Academy of Science

Caleb Kong won second place at theIowa Junior Academy of Science annual meeting on Friday, April 22. Twenty Ames High School students participated, presenting more than 50 research projects. Kong qualified to attend the National Junior Academy of Science meeting in Boston at MIT 2017. Congratulations to all Ames High School presenters – you did very well and made Ames High proud!!

Students compete at International Career Development Conference

Ames High DECA students recently competed at the International Career Development Conference in Nashville. Students completed a 100-question exam followed by a role-play scenario focused on a specific business area. Philip Ma competed in a special event titled Virtual Accounting Challenge, where he had to identify errors in the accounting books of a company. A special congratulations to Ma who placing fourth internationally in his event! Stephen McKown, Philip Ma, Sam Stuve, Kevin Maxwell, McKenna Meinhard, Grace Jean, Ben Facio, Mike Sankey and Lydia Romitti also competed. Thanks to our business sponsors: Taco Time, Haverkamp Properties, Ames Chamber, Herrick Dental, Trickles LLC, Tax Pro, Blue Sky Orthodontics, Meg Dobson: State Farm, and HyVee.

Spring Band Concert

The Ames High School Bands will present a Spring Concert at 6:30 p.m.,Tuesday, May 3, in the Ames High School Auditorium. The Spring Jazz Band will be performing Southside Blues by Doug Beach, Hullabaloo by Alan Baylock, and Alianza by Erik Morales. The Percussion Ensemble will be performing Escape Artist by Eric Rath and Wop Upside the Head by Chris Brooks. The Ninth Grade Band will be performing Lightning Field by John Mackey, Rippling Watercolors by Brian Balmages, and River of Life by Steven Reineke. The Concert Band will be performing Ross Roy by Jacob de Haan, The Minuteman March by Robert H. Pearson, and Fortress by Frank Tichelli. The Symphonic Band will be performing Esprit de Corps by Robert Jager, The Hounds of Spring by Alfred Reed, Moment by Alex Shapiro, Hill Dance by David Avshalomov, Godzilla Eats Las Vegas by Eric Whitacre and, Encore! by Yo Goto. The Symphonic Band was selected through a taped audition to present this program at the Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference on May 13, 2016 at 5:00PM at the Des Moines Marriott. This is the highest honor that a high school concert band can achieve in the state. The bands are under the direction of Andrew Buttermore and Chris Ewan. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and $10 for a family.

Ames High School presents “The Mouse That Roared”

What does one do when one’s country’s economy is about to collapse and its resources for recovery are limited? Well, one declares war on the United States and hopes to lose, of course, according to the premise of the very funny “The Mouse That Roared”, adapted by Christopher Sergel from the book by Leonard Wibberley. The Duchess of Grand Fenwick declares war on the United States, then sends Tully Bascom and his ragtag “medieval” soldiers overseas to invade, planning to lose the war so the United States will rehabilitate Grand Fenwick’s economy. However, the attack takes an unexpected turn. Curtain is 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 6 and 7. Tickets are $4 for middle school aged children and younger and $5 for high school aged students and adults.

Students taking AP tests are prohibited from having cell phones while testing. According to AP policy, AP exam grades will be cancelled for any student who uses a cell phone during an exam or on break. Students should check test locations posted outside of Student Services. Students also need to bring pencils and a black or blue pen.

Attention all baseball players: Practice starts next week. Sophomores through Varsity will begin on Monday at 4:00 PM at Brookside Park. Freshmen practices will start on Thursday at 4:00 PM. If you are a spring athlete, please see Coach Bappe to get more information.

AMES–For more than 20 years, two-time GRAMMY nominee Justin Roberts has been creating music helping families and children navigate the joys and sorrows of growing up. Roberts’ visit to Northwood Preschool Center Friday, Jan. 29 kept his young audience engaged and entertained while they practiced the essential elements of music learning.

Principal Brandon Schrauth said music learning is an important part of the preschool experience, and he invited Roberts because he is a master at integrating learning standards into his concerts.

A former preschool teacher, Roberts said the interactive aspects of his concerts naturally meet the learning goals for young children.

“It’s so important for children to experience music as part of their learning,” he said. “It helps with brain development and function, and supports and enriches foundational for concepts for math, science and language.”

Regardless of such empirical benefits, Roberts said, music is something people can enjoy and appreciate throughout their lives.

Hendrix Baumgartner, age 5, is on track for a lifetime of music enjoyment. He said he liked the concert from beginning to end.

“I learned my voice is an instrument I always have with me, and my hands are a drum,” he said. “I liked the last song best because we got to dance.”

The Iowa Learning Standards for music, rhythm and movement include:

Participation in a variety of musical and rhythmic experiences, including singing,dancing, listening, playing simple rhythmic and tonal instruments, and creating and singing chants, rhymes, and fingerplays from diverse cultures.

Demonstrating meaningful creative responses when listening to music to reflect the expressive elements of music.notices differences in pitch, rhythm, patterns, dynamics, tempo, and timbre.

Demonstrating an awareness of music as part of daily life indoors and outdoors.

Students taking AP tests are prohibited from having cell phones while testing. According to AP policy, AP exam grades will be cancelled for any student who uses a cell phone during an exam or on break. Students should check test locations posted outside of Student Services. Students also need to bring pencils and a black or blue pen.

Attention all baseball players: Practice starts next week. Sophomores through Varsity will begin on Monday at 4:00 PM at Brookside Park. Freshmen practices will start on Thursday at 4:00 PM. If you are a spring athlete, please see Coach Bappe to get more information.

Today is the last senior mentor homeroom day for current senior mentors. Go say goodbye to your ninth graders!

Students taking AP tests are prohibited from having cell phones while testing. According to AP policy, AP exam grades will be cancelled for any student who uses a cell phone during an exam or on break. Students should check test locations posted outside of Student Services. Students also need to bring pencils and a black or blue pen.

Attention all baseball players: Practice starts next week. Sophomores through Varsity will begin on Monday at 4:00 PM at Brookside Park. Freshmen practices will start on Wednesday at 4:00 PM. If you are a spring athlete, please see Coach Bappe to get more information.

Ames High School Softball information meeting

There will be a parent/player meeting on Monday, April 25th at 6 p.m. in the Ames High Cafeteria. We recommend you attend if your daughter is planning to play softball this summer, as many items will be discussed pertaining to the upcoming season. If you have any questions, email Coach Gorman at Please enable JavaScript to see this field.

Spring Chorus Concert

The Ames High School Vocal Music Department will present its annual Spring Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26 in the high school Auditorium. The Freshmen/Concert Choir, Treble Choir, Treble Chorale, Bass Choir and Concert Choral will perform under the direction of Steven Linn and Peggy Dieter.

Spring Band Concert

The Ames High School Bands will present a Spring Concert at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, in the Ames High School Auditorium. The Spring Jazz Band will perform Southside Blues by Doug Beach, Hullabaloo by Alan Baylock, and Alianza by Erik Morales. The Percussion Ensemble will be performing Escape
Artist by Eric Rath and Wop Upside the Head by Chris Brooks. The Ninth Grade Band will be performing Lightning Field by John Mackey, Rippling Watercolors by Brian Balmages, and River of Life by Steven Reineke. The Concert Band will be performing Ross Roy by Jacob de Haan, The Minuteman March by Robert H. Pearson, and Fortress by Frank Tichelli. The Symphonic Band will be performing
Esprit de Corps by Robert Jager, The Hounds of Spring by Alfred Reed, Moment by Alex Shapiro, Hill Dance by David Avshalomov, Godzilla Eats Las Vegas by Eric Whitacre and, Encore! by Yo Goto. The bands are under the direction of Andrew Buttermore and Chris Ewan. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and $10 for a family.

Ames High School Symphonic Band to perform at Iowa Bandmasters’ Conference

The Symphonic Band was selected through a taped audition to present its spring concert program at the Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference at 5p.m., May 13, at the Des Moines Marriott. This is the highest honor that a high school concert band can achieve in the state.

Spring Play is “The Mouse That Roared”

What happens when your country’s economy is about to collapse and your resources for recovery are limited? Well, declare war on the United Sates and hope to lose, of course. That is the premise of the very funny The Mouse That Roared, adapted by Christopher Sergel from the book by Leonard Wibberley. The economy of the little Duchy of Grand Fenwick is about to fall apart unless they find money fast, and so the Duchess of Grand Fenwick declares war on the United States, then sends Tully Bascom and his ragtag “medieval” soldiers overseas to the US, knowing they will lose and the United States will rehabilitate Grand Fenwick’s economy. However, the attack takes an unexpected turn. Curtain is 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday May 6 and 7. Tickets are $4 for students in middle school and below, $5 for high school and adults.

Nicole Coronado’s fourth grade students at Camp Sawyer Elementary School wrote essays as a literacy project. The essays didn’t sit on their desks, however. Students mailed them to important community members or influential people in the field of their essay topic.

Vinny Mayberry wrote an essay about the skill and drive required to be a good wrestler. He sent his essay and a letter to ISU wrestler Kyven Gadsen.

Vinny had heard Gadsen tell an interviewer after winning a big wrestling meet, that the thing he was most excited about was getting ice cream. Vinny ended his letter to Gadsen asking if Gadsen got his ice cream.

On Friday, April 7, Gadsen surprised Vinny and the class with a visit. He also brought ice cream.

Vinny said, “I didn’t know he was going to come see me! I was really happy he took time off his training to see me and the class. I really look up to him!”

Coronado said it’s important for students to see the real world purposes for any assignment they do in class.

“When we wrote our essays, I asked the students to think of who they would like to read them,” she said. “Many students chose workers at animal shelters, family members, and famous athletes. We mailed out all the essays but didn’t know if we would get many responses. When Gadsen showed up at school, I knew the students, especially Vinny, would be thrilled to see their essays did make an impact. It is moments like this that make learning fun!”

Gadsen spoke to the class about the importance of hard work and dedication, Coronado said.

“He was preparing to compete in an Olympic trial the Sunday after visiting and told the class he loves to eat ice cream, but when he is training he knows he has to watch what he eats, even if it is hard,” she said. “Although he couldn’t enjoy ice cream, he brought some for the class to enjoy.”